Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are one of the oldest plant families on Earth. Although they thrive in the temperate rain forests of the Pacific Northwest, they can adapt to higher elevations and warmer and dryer climates, as well as colder areas.

The secret is lots of water and sunshine, especially at this baby stage. (Grower's note: These have grown and are now a foot high or more.)

Redwoods have a genetic configuration with 6 sets of chromosomes that developed over thousands of years to allow the trees to grow in many diverse climate conditions and regions.

The common name for these trees is California Redwood or Coastal Redwood. They can live for 2,000 years or more in ideal conditions. This species includes the tallest trees on Earth, reaching up to 375 feet in height and 26 feet in diameter.

You are purchasing a baby redwood tree, actively growing in a 4-inch pot. These stand about 8 to 9 inches high measured from the bottom of the pot.

You can regulate the speed of growth by varying the light -- the lower the light, the slower the growth. But do keep them moist, as redwoods like lots of water. We think these can be grown outdoors successfully from zones 5 through 9 if proper care is given.

We recommend growing these as pot plants for up to a year, gradually increasing the size of the pot. Plant in the ground in the spring of 2011. Be sure to allow for room to grow when selecting a location, and be sure to provide plenty of water in dry conditions.

Or you can grow these as container plants by pruning them back if they threaten to get too big.

These trees were tissue cultured from large redwoods that showed superior growth, shape,  adaptation to varying climatic regions, limb structure, height and diameter.

A mature tree is said to produce nearly 260 pounds of oxygen a year.

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Redwood trees can grow very rapidly. Young trees develop a narrow conical silhouette -- the highest branches reaching upward, the lower ones drooping. This shape changes with age.

Young redwoods use sunlight so efficiently (3-4 times more than pines) that they can grow even in deep shade. But with full sunlight and moist soil, a large redwood sapling can grow more than 6 feet in a single growing season! The babies offered here can grow up to two feet in a year, if the conditions are right.